Clasp for jewelry chains



May 1l, *1954 y A. c. Nn-:LsL-:N n 2,677,864

CLASP FOR JEWELRY CHAINS Filed July 19, 1949 IN V EN T 0R.'

Patented May 11, 1954 AUNI TED STATES .PATEN T oFFICE 2,677,864 CLASP FORv JEWELRY `CHAINS .Albert C.Nie1sen, chicago, nl. Application July 19, 1949, serial No. 105,481

(o1. 2li- 241) 3 Claims. -1

-My invention relates to-clasps for chains V.which carry watches, bracelets, necklaces, land other jewelry items or novelties, and onecbject is to provide a clasp which is of ample strength .to overcomeall pulling strains on the chain.

A further object is to `design the clasp =with Va positive retaining factor, vand to secure .the llatter in a spring receptacle 4capable of Vbeing opened when desired.

Another' object is to design the novel clasp along lines of sturdiness and simplicity.

With the above objects in View, and any others which may suggest themselves from the descrip- Vtion to follow, a better understanding ofthe invention may be had `by lreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is atop plan View of a Watch bracelet incorporating the novel clasp inthe locked position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged duplicationof the clasp in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 isa sectionon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on the lines 4 4 and 5-5 of Fig. .3; and

Fig. 6 is a view clasp open.

In accordance with the foregoing, Fig. 1 shows the top of the clasp; and it is understood that the bottom thereof lies against the wristzor other body portion to which the chain of the jewelry article is applied. The illustration in Fig. 1 Iis that of a watch lll, the clasp being indicated at Il. The clasp ii is extended from one end with ears I2 which make a conventional connection with one `of thechain links I3. The claspfis lide-V signed to make a connection at its opposite end with a lug Ifl of the watch I0 or other article carried by the chain, such lug being perforated crosswise, as is the common practice. The illustra-tion in Fig. l shows the clasp in locked engagement with the lug Ill.

Turning to Figs. 2 and 3, it is seen that Vthe clasp mainly involves a casing I I, formed lwith pendent side ilanges 20. At one end, these *are perforated for the hinged suspension of a bottom lid 22, such lid having an upturned bend 23 at its free end and a lug 211 extended from such free end at the center. Lid 22 is hinged as at 22a to flanges 20.

The flanges 2@ of the casing II converge somewhat in a downward direction; and one of the flanges is cut in the middle with a section which is rolled inwardly to form a bearing 25 for the shank 2G of a hook-like latch 21, the bill of such latch being numbered 28 and parallel to the similar to Fig. 3, showing the shank 26. The inner end of shank 26 isbentout at 329 fto lock the latch from sliding out ofthe bearing 25'; fand the latch is in this manner rendered `'pivotable in relation tothe casing yII.

When the lid 22 is open and the latch 21 is swung down, as shown in Fig. 6 and indicated by finely-dotted linesin Fig. 4, the free end of its bill 28 isopen to receive the lug It! of the watch I 0,0r of. any other novelty designed to be'engaged by .the clasp. When the lug I4 has `been slung* on the latch bill 28 and slid ontothe bight portionof said latch 21, the latter is swung up toward the casing Il. `Now, the spacing vof vthe bill 28 from the hinged shank 26 of the -latch is such that the bill -willmeet some resistance from the proximate casing .flange 2'when entering the casing I l, said bill 28 yielding slightly before it seats within the vcorresponding yflange l2li. This is vpossible because the latch 21 is made of `spring wire.

After the'latch 21 has been seated in the casing-as just mentioned and indicatedin Figs. 2 to 4,

end `flange 23 cf the lid is'rnade with concavities 30 in its side edges; and these edges are spaced to crowd the shank and :bill of the latch 21 apart as the lid closes fully on the casing to the extent shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This action momentarily causes the latch to expand to 4the extent'of slightly forcing the 'side 'flanges 20 .of the casingY part. However, when vthe `lid seats fully in the casing, 'the shank 26 and bill 28 ofthe latch trip into'or seat inthe concavities 30 of the flange 23,'allowing the flanges 20 of the casing to assume their normal or convergent positions. is now locked within the casing flanges; and the lid 22 is locked in the closed position by the seating of .the latch shank `and bill in-thelconcavities 30 of the lid bend i23.

Theclasp maythus be considered as completely locked; and it `is understood, in `.the first place, that the longitudinal pullfof -the chain-or lother article in `which the clasp is interposed, cannot open-the clasp because of the positive -andlclosed tie formed -by the latch 21. Further, the latch cannot .openof `itself because of the :locked'condition previously described, and also because there would be no tendency to pull the lid 22 open as long as it lies against the wrist or other body portion carrying the jewelry article. However, in case the clasp is desired to be opened, the iingernail may be applied above the lug 24 with downit is desired to open the clasp,

constitutes a coupling for articles of the character described which in normal use is a positive lock against the separation of the parts connected, the action of the lock being fortied against accidental failure by the protective position of the wrist or other body portion against which the lid of the clasp lies. Yet, when it is merely placed where its lid can secure a clearance on the application of the ngernail pressure, the clasp readily opening in such event to permit the uncoupling or application of the parts connected. Further, it is evident that the novel clasp is made up of only three parts, which may be made by suitable methods to serve eiliciently and be durable over a long period o use. Finally, the simplicity of the clasp makes its manufacture economical and renders it unlikely to get out oi order.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or renements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and reinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clasp for coupling jewelry elements comprising a channel form body member providing side flanges and having a coupling means at one end, a hook-shaped latch providing shank bill portions and having a bight portion projecting as a releasable coupling element from the opposite end of said body, hinge means connecting said shank portion to said body inwardly of and substantially parallel with one oi said flanges to dispose said bill inwardly of and adjacent the opposite ilange, the latter flange having a resilient outwardly actuatable portion disposed in the path of said bill portion and coniiningly overlying a portion of said bill portion when the latter has been swung in to a position adjacent said body, a body-carried means shiftably secured thereto and movable to sustainingly engage the side portion of said bill which is remote from said second-mentioned ilange to urge the opposite side of said bill against the latter, said latch being of spring material, and said bodycarried means comprising a shiftable lid positioned to close upon the ilanged side of said body, said lid including a bend toward the body, said bend entering between said flanges to be eiective with its sides to crowd the bill and shank apart on the closing movement of the lid and put the bill in tensioning engagement with the adjacent ilange.

2. A clasp for coupling jewelry elements comprising a channel form body member providing side flanges and having a coupling means at one end, a hook-shaped latch providing shank and bill portions and having a bight portion projecting as a releasable coupling element from the opposite end of said body, hinge means connecting said shank portion to said body inwardly of and substantially parallel with one of said ilanges to dispose said bill inwardly of and adjacent the opposite ange, the latter flange having a resilient outwardly actuatable portion disposed in the path of said bill portion and confiningly overlying a portion of said bill portion when the latter has been swung in to a position adjacent said body, a body-carried means shiftably secured thereto and movable to sustainingly engage the side portion of said bill which is remote from said second-mentioned flange to urge the opposite side of said bill against the latter, said latch being of spring material, and said body-carried means comprising a shiftable lid positioned to close upon the ilanged side of said body, said lid including a bend toward said body, said bend entering between said flanges to be effective with its sides to crowd the bill and shank apart upon the closing movement of the lid and put the bill in momentary tensioning engagement with the adjacent flange, and said bend sides being formed with recesses behind their leading portions to trip the shank and bill as the lid closes and cause the latter to become locked to the encased latch.

3. A clasp for coupling jewelry elements comprising a channel form body member providing side flanges and having a coupling means at one end, a hook-shaped latch providing shank and bill portions and having a bight portion projecting as a releasable coupling element from the opposite end of said body, hinge means connecting said shank portion to said body inwardly of and substantially parallel with one of said ilanges to dispose said bill inwardly of and adjacent the opposite ilange, the latter flange having a resilient outwardly actuatable portion disposed in the path of said bill portion and conningly overlying a portion of said bill portion when the latter has been swung in to a position adjacent said body, a body-carried means shiftably secured thereto and movable to sustainingly engage the side portion of said bill which is remote from said second mentioned flange to urge the opposite side of said bill against the latter, said latch being of spring material, and said body-carried means comprising a lid hinged to the body at its first mentioned end to close toward the flanged side of said body and toward its other end, said lid having an inward bend entering between said anges, the sides of said inward bend being effective to crowd the bill and shank apart on the closing movement of the lid and put the bill in momentary tensioning engagement with the adjacent flange, and said sides being formed with recesses behind their leading portions into which the shank and bill trip as the lid closes and cause the latter to become locked to the encased latch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

